Is Jesus Sitting or Standing Right Now?

From Seated King to Standing Savior: Reflections on Acts 7:56

Will We Shake God’s Left Hand?

Recently, I heard a story about a young girl who once approached her pastor with a curious theological question that made me smile. "Pastor," she asked with childlike innocence, "when we get to heaven, will we have to shake God's left hand when we meet him?" Puzzled by the question, the pastor asked her what she meant by it. Her response was brilliantly logical: "Well, he can't give a handshake with his right hand because Jesus is sitting —ON— God's right hand."

This charming misunderstanding reveals a profound theological truth. Clearly, this little girl did not quite grasp that God the Father is an invisible Spirit (John 4:24) who cannot be seen by mortal eyes (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16).

However, she had correctly understood and internalized one of the most fundamental truths of Christian theology—that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is positioned at the Father's right hand.

The Present Position of God's Son

This positioning of Christ at the Father's right hand is among the most frequently mentioned truths about our Lord's current activity. Scripture repeatedly describes Jesus as "seated," which is meant to communicate His position of honor and authority.

This imagery does NOT mean to suggest that Jesus Christ is physically sitting on a literal chair; rather, it is an analogy that uses a known concept from the realm of earth (kings, thrones, and kingdoms) in order to communicate an unknown concept in the realm of heaven (the risen Christ reigns and rules from an invisible and heavenly throne).

There are two Old Testament passages that are critical for understanding this image of Jesus Christ sitting at God's right hand.

• First, Daniel 7:9-14 presents a heavenly courtroom scene where "thrones" (plural) are arranged and “the Ancient of Days” (God the Father) "took his seat." In this divine courtroom, "the court sat in judgment" and "the books were opened." Verses 9 and 10 set the stage for the vision in verses 13 and 14 when "one like a son of man" comes to the Ancient of Days and receives "dominion, glory, and kingdoms." It is important to note that Daniel's heavenly vision reveals two distinct figures or theologically we might say “persons:” (1) the "Ancient of Days" (God) and (2) "one like a son of man" (the divine-human Messiah). Here is the full passage:

"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened...I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14)

• Second, Psalm 110:1 depicts a heavenly conversation where the LORD ("YHWH") speaks to David's Lord ("my Lord"), and the LORD is instructing this exalted figure to "sit at my right hand" while the LORD subdues His enemies.

"The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'" (Psalm 110:1)

This single Old Testament text is one of the most important passages for understanding Christ's current heavenly position.

In fact, did you know that Psalm 110:1 is the most frequently quoted or referenced Old Testament verse in the New Testament?

It appears in numerous passages and is referenced by almost every author of the New Testament. Here is an incomplete list of those passages:

1. Matthew 22:44

2. Mark 14:62

3. Luke 22:69

4. Acts 2:34-35

5. Acts 7:55-56

6. Romans 8:34

7. 1 Corinthians 15:25

8. Ephesians 1:20-21

9. Colossians 3:1

10. Hebrews 1:3

11. Hebrews 1:13

12. Hebrews 7:17

13. Hebrews 8:1

14. Hebrews 10:12

15. 1 Peter 3:22

Even if you only simply observe the frequency of the usage of this passage, that alone should alert you to the theological significance of Christ's ascension.

The Present Posture of God's Son

But the point that I want to highlight from Psalm 110:1 and its use in the New Testament is that Jesus' posture in heaven is explicitly described as "seated."

• Ephesians 1:20 — "...when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places."

• Colossians 3:1 — "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."

• Hebrews 1:3 —"After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

• Hebrews 8:1 — "We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven."

• Hebrews 10:12 — "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."

• Hebrews 12:2 — "...looking to Jesus... who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

The Present Work of the Seated Son

One significant weakness in contemporary evangelical preaching and theology is our tendency to focus exclusively on what Christ has done in the past (his atoning death and victorious resurrection) or what he will do in the future (his glorious return).

As a result, we far too often neglect a crucial question:

What is Jesus doing right now?

Scripture's resounding answer is that Jesus Christ is "sitting" at the Father's right hand. But this "sitting" isn't passive relaxation. Sitting signifies active sovereign rule, divine governance, and the ongoing sending of the Holy Spirit.

In short, Christ's seated position represents His kingly honor and sovereign authority who is like an army general deploying troops for battle.

The Present Work of the Standing Son

Yet, amid the consistent biblical portrayal of the seated Christ, Acts 7:56 presents a striking anomaly. As Stephen faces his martyrdom, he declares:

"Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56)

This exceptional vision deserves careful theological reflection:

1. First, Stephen's language of "the heavens opened" and "the Son of Man" deliberately echoes Daniel 7, connecting his vision to this foundational messianic prophecy.

2. Second, the phrase "at the right hand of God" links to Psalm 110:1, following Jesus' own interpretive precedent when he combined these passages in his testimony before the Sanhedrin: "But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64; see also Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69).

3. Third, and most significantly, Stephen sees Jesus "standing" rather than "sitting," which is a dramatic departure from every other glimpse we receive into Christ's heavenly posture.

The Present Power of Christ's Standing Posture

But why should you care? How might Christ's standing posture directly impact your day and life today?

I believe the answer is given in 1 John 2:1, when John assures us that Jesus is in heaven faithfully serving as our "advocate" before the Father when we sin. The word that John uses, "advocate," brings to mind the image of a "defense attorney" sitting next to a convicted criminal inside a courtroom.

Though you have sinned, you have a human defense attorney, an advocate who pleads your case before the divine Judge, declaring that your debt was paid in full at Calvary. Even when your own heart condemns you, the Son of God stands in your defense, pronouncing you justified and righteous.

So then, connect this concept of Jesus as our legal defense before God the Father with the vision of Stephen who sees Jesus standing at God's right hand just before Stephen is stoned to death.

This picture reveals a beautiful exchange in the divine-human relationship: when we stand for Jesus on earth, Jesus stands for us in heaven! In other words, this is the positive counterpart to Jesus' solemn warning in Matthew 10:33: "But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Furthermore, Jesus' two natures (divine and human) mean that he is coequal with God the Father, which is why most of the time we are being told that Jesus is "sitting" at God's right hand. Yet, God's Son is forever united to humans and represents all the humans who put their faith in Him. He can defend us because he became one of us (incarnation) and he can defend us because he paid the penalty for sin when He gave His life for us (substitution).

When was the last time you reflected on this reality: Jesus is in heaven standing in heaven defending you as not guilty for all your sins simply because you put your faith and trust in His atoning death on the cross?

I promise you that if you spend more time meditating on this gospel truth, then the ascension of Jesus Christ will soon become one of the most precious truths in your arsenal to fight the condemning voice of the Serpent when you sin.

Believing in a savior who is both “seated” and “standing” in God's heavenly courtroom as both Lord and savior can be an electric jolt to a defeated or sleepy spiritual system. I know it has filled my own heart with such deep and abiding comfort to realize that Jesus can both sit above me and stand with me.

The Present Posture of Christ's Followers

So then, will you stand for Jesus like Stephen did and make a public stand for Christ?

The first way to do this is to repent of your sins and be baptized as a public declaration of your faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ.

Then, all followers of Jesus ought to boldly proclaim the gospel with assurance that Jesus will stand with us and for us as we proclaim and defend Him here on earth.

I will be praying that this vision of God's Son sitting on the throne and standing before the throne will be a deep comfort to your heart and embolden you to become a courageous witness.

Perhaps paradoxically, as we aspire to stand for Christ in our daily lives, this heavenly vision will leave us unable to stand at all, compelling us instead to fall prostrate in reverent awe before the majesty of our seated Lord and standing Savior.